Daang Matuwid standard bearer Mar Roxas was honored by the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) for his efforts as former Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (SILG) on Wednesday (February 10) at the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.

The event was attended by President Benigno S. Aquino III, Daang Matuwid Vice Presidential bet Leni Robredo, current SILG Mel Sarmiento, Secretary of Budget and Management Butch Abad, Pasay City Representative Emi Calixto-Rubiano, LMP national president Mayor Leonardo Javier, Jr. and over a thousand delegates of the LMP.

Roxas began his stint as DILG Secretary in September 2012, where he not only expanded the programs of the late SILG Jesse Robredo but also created new projects. “Naging fulfilling ang trabahong ito dahil may rektang koneksyon ang tagumpay sa bawa’t mamamayang pilipino,” Roxas said.

As DILG chief, Roxas expanded Robredo’s Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) to the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) or the Pagkilala sa Katapatan at Kahusayan ng Pamahalaang Lokal.

For a Local Government Unit (LGU) to receive the SGLG, LGUs should not only sustain accountability and transparency (Good Financial Housekeeping), but are also able to prepare for the challenges posed by disasters (Disaster Preparedness), and are sensitive to the needs of vulnerable and marginalized sectors of the society (Social Protection).

Moreover, the SGLG also drives LGUs to encourage investment and employment (Business-Friendliness and Competitiveness); protect the constituents from threats to life and security (Peace and Order); and safeguard the integrity of the environment (Environmental Management).

Other than that, Roxas also ensured that most, if not all, cities and municipalities in the country had police patrol jeeps and fire trucks.

In his short message, Roxas explained that should he win, he would enact “Bottom-up Budgeting Pa More,” which will further stimulate growth at the grassroots level by allotting P1,000 per resident in each community instead. This fund will be added on top of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) as well as the infrastructure funded by the national government.